按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
he'll wake up； in a few hours； and beyond feeling a bit sick for a hit；
he'll be all right。 Or would be； if Lugb畆z would let him alone。 And of
course； beyond wondering where he is and what's happened to him。'
'And what's going to happen to him；' laughed Gorbag。 'We can tell him a
few stories at any rate； if we can't do anything else。 I don't suppose he's
ever been in lovely Lugb畆z； so he may like to know what to expect。 This is
going to be more funny than I thought。 Let's go！'
‘There's going to be no fun； I tell you；' said Shagrat。 'And he's got
to be kept safe； or we're all as good as dead。'
‘AII right！ But if I were you； I'd catch the big one that's loose；
before you send in any report to Lugb畆z。 It won't sound too pretty to say
you've caught the kitten and let the cat escape。'
The voices began to move away。 Sam heard the sound of feet receding。 He
was recovering from his shock； and now a wild fury was on him。 ‘I got it all
wrong！ ' he cried。 ‘I knew I would。 Now they've got him； the devils！ the
filth！ Never leave your master； never； never： that was my right rule。 And I
knew it in my heart。 May I be forgiven！ Now I've got to get back to him。
Somehow； somehow！ '
He drew his sword again and beat on the stone with the hilt； but it
only gave out a dull sound。 The sword； however； blazed so brightly now that
he could see dimly in its light。 To his surprise he noticed that the great
block was shaped like a heavy door； and was less than twice his own height。
Above it was a dark blank space between the top and the low arch of the
opening。 It was probably only meant to be a stop against the intrusion of
Shelob； fastened on the inside with some latch or bolt beyond the reach of
her cunning。 With his remaining strength Sam leaped and caught the top；
scrambled up； and dropped； and then he ran madly； sword blazing in hand；
round a bend and up a winding tunnel。
The news that his master was still alive roused him to a last effort
beyond thought of weariness。 He could not see anything ahead。 for this new
passage twisted and turned constantly； but he thought he was catching the
two Orcs up： their voices were growing nearer again。 Now they seemed quite
close。
‘That's what I'm going to do；' said Shagrat in angry tones。 'Put him
right up in the top chamber。'
‘What for？ ' growled Gorbag。 ‘Haven't you any lock…ups down below？ '
‘He's going out of harm's way； I tell you；' answered Shagrat。 'See？
He's precious。 I don't trust all my lads； and none of yours； nor you
neither； when you're mad for fun。 He's going where I want him； and where you
won't e； if you don't keep civil。 Up to the top； I say。 He'll be safe
there。'
‘Will he？' said Sam。 'You're forgetting the great big elvish warrior
that's loose！' And with that he raced round the last corner； only to find
that by some trick of the tunnel； or of the hearing which the Ring gave him；
he had misjudged the distance。
The two orc…figures were still some way ahead。 He could see them now；
black and squat against a red glare。 The passage ran straight at last； up an
incline； and at the end； wide open； were great double doors； leading
probably to deep chambers far below the high horn of the tower。 Already the
Orcs with their burden had passed inside。 Gorbag and Shagrat were drawing
near the gate。
Sam heard a burst of hoarse singing； blaring of horns and banging of
gongs； a hideous clamour。 Gorbag and Shagrat were already on the threshold。
Sam yelled and brandished Sting； but his little voice was drowned in
the tumult。 No one heeded him。
The great doors slammed to。 Boom。 The bars of iron fell into place
inside。 Clang。 The gate was shut。 Sam hurled himself against the bolted
brazen plates and fell senseless to the ground。 He was out in the darkness。
Frodo was alive but taken by the Enemy。
Here ends the second part of the history of the War of the Ring。
The third part tells of the last defence against the Shadow； and the
end of the mission of the Ring…bearer in THE RETURN OF THE KING。